Former Child Abuse Investigator Jailed for Sexually Abusing a Child

A detective who previously worked in a child abuse investigation unit has been sentenced to prison for abusing a young girl and creating "gruesome" indecent images.

Det Con Chris Maitland, 40, of Widey View, Plymouth, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexually touching a child under the age of 13 and 12 charges of taking and making indecent images of a child.

Maitland, who was employed in the Metropolitan Police's sexual offences, exploitation and child abuse command, was sentenced to five years and four months in prison at Southwark Crown Court.

He was initially arrested on 22 November last year on suspicion of possession and distribution of indecent images of children. He was re-arrested on 15 March on suspicion of sexual touching and subsequently charged.

Scotland Yard confirmed that Maitland was off duty at the time of the offenses and is currently suspended. Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith described the material found on Maitland's computer as "pretty gruesome" during his plea hearing.